Life after cancer - what they don't tell you

Life after cancer - what they don't tell you

You will catch everything going when you return to work and end up on disciplinary procedures for absence.

Your blood test results will be swirly for months after your last treatment (I finished radiotherapy in Jan21)

Your mental state will be all over the place because you can see your test results and your'e thinking 'here we go again'.

You are physically weak and can no longer do the things you could do before treatment, like parkrun

Nothing really matters anymore, because you've been told you will be back in the cancer system within 2-5 years

You have the patience of the proverbial saint

You sit and listen more, letting others tell their story

You answer cries for help and expect nothing in return (well nobody came to your aid when you had cancer, stupid covid)

You appreciate everyone in your life a lot more and deliberately make time for them, no matter how inconvenient it is for you

You are calmer and less likely to blow a gasket

You appreciate just how awesome you are, because you beat cancer, rocked a red mohican and a bald head, plus you've lost your chemo weight without trying

 

Parents
  • Hi Tul! I agree with all you said and would add a couple of my own. Get used to everyone telling you how glad you must be that your treatment is over. This is so not true. The well publicised chemo and radiotherapy are done but the treatment is far from over and I actually feel worse on letrozole than I did with chemo. I swear the next person who tells me how brave I am will not like my response!! I am not brave I am just plodding on, dealing day by day with the *** hand I have been dealt. What else am I supposed to do? Lay down and die? Only another cancer traveller can know the road we tread, the twists and turns, the many bumps along the way. Keep moving forward with hope, Mog, xx

  • Thank you both. Moggymad62, I agree about being brave. Nope. I did what I was told.

  • Well, I was right to be worried about my last set of blood tests.  My doctor confirmed yesterday that I hve  Rheumatoid Arthritis.  I've had signs and symptoms since I had chemo in 2020, so yeah, now I'm living with that.  I've cried a lot in the last 24 hours, because cancer is fixable, this isn't.  Got my smear test and mammograms next week, so fingers crossed they go ok.  It couldn't be any worse......:silly:

Reply
  • Well, I was right to be worried about my last set of blood tests.  My doctor confirmed yesterday that I hve  Rheumatoid Arthritis.  I've had signs and symptoms since I had chemo in 2020, so yeah, now I'm living with that.  I've cried a lot in the last 24 hours, because cancer is fixable, this isn't.  Got my smear test and mammograms next week, so fingers crossed they go ok.  It couldn't be any worse......:silly:

Children
  • Hi Tul24, so sorry to hear of your rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis, that's really rotten news. I had my first annual check up mammogram last week and was told not to expect the results for at least 6 weeks. Hopefully your wait for your results won't be that long. Can't remember now if you are taking the hormone suppressants but I am and have very painful joints from that. The pain is worst in my hands, not ideal as I live alone and am now struggling to open stuff. Even taking the top of the milk hurts!! Switching drugs to see if that helps. Cancer really is the gift that keeps on giving, it doesn't come alone that's for sure. Really hope your results are quick to come and show all is well, thinking of you, xxMog